Category:Anger of a Devotee of God
Theme Analysis
A pure devotee of the Lord is naturally characterized by extreme humility, tolerance, and meekness. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that attaining spiritual perfection does not mean a devotee becomes an unfeeling stone or loses the capacity for anger. The critical distinction lies in the application of that anger. A Vaiṣṇava never becomes angry for personal reasons—such as being insulted, beaten, or facing material failure—because their life is entirely dedicated to Kṛṣṇa, and they accept all reverses as the Lord's mercy. For instance, when Mahārāja Parīkṣit was unjustly cursed to die, he did not become angry at the brāhmaṇa boy; instead, he peacefully accepted his fate.
While a devotee tolerates personal affronts, they exhibit fiery, righteous anger when the Supreme Lord, Lord Viṣṇu, or another devotee is insulted. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that krodha (anger) cannot be artificially stopped; it must be utilized correctly. The supreme example is Hanumān, who utilized his immense anger to set fire to Laṅkā in the service of Lord Rāmacandra, thereby earning worship as the greatest devotee. Similarly, the four Kumāras, although fully liberated paramahaṁsas, became transcendentally angry when Jaya and Vijaya blocked them from seeing the Personality of Godhead.
Because a pure devotee is situated on the absolute platform, their anger is not a destructive material force but a divine benediction. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that when a Vaiṣṇava superficially becomes angry at a nondevotee, it is actually for the nondevotee's ultimate benefit. When Nārada Muni became angry and cursed the sons of Kuvera to become trees, it was a profound blessing that ultimately resulted in their liberation by Lord Kṛṣṇa. Even when devotees clash, as seen with Lord Indra and Mahārāja Pṛthu, their underlying status as servants of Viṣṇu ensures that their anger is adjusted cooperatively. Ultimately, whether a devotee is pleased or angry, the result is always auspicious.
- Tolerance in Personal Matters: A genuine Vaiṣṇava is meek and humble, peacefully tolerating personal insults, physical beatings, and material reverses without becoming angry.
- Righteous Indignation: A pure devotee becomes fiercely angry only when the Supreme Lord, Lord Viṣṇu, or another devotee is blasphemed or hindered.
- The Absolute Platform: Because a devotee operates on the absolute platform, their anger is not a material defect but a transcendental tool used to bestow benedictions.
- Historical Precedents: The righteous anger of exalted devotees like Hanumān, the four Kumāras, and Nārada Muni perfectly illustrates how krodha should be utilized in the service of Kṛṣṇa.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Anger of a Devotee of God - The Righteous Indignation of a Vaiṣṇava.
Subcategories
This category has the following 10 subcategories, out of 10 total.
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Pages in category "Anger of a Devotee of God"
The following 41 pages are in this category, out of 41 total.
A
- A devotee is always nonviolent; he is qualified with all good characteristics. But, in the common world, when there is mischief made by others, he should not forget to become angry, at least for the time being, in order to drive away the miscreants
- A devotee is generally very humble and meek, and he is reluctant to pick a quarrel with anyone. Nor does he envy anyone. However, a pure devotee immediately becomes fiery with anger when he sees that Lord Visnu or His devotee is insulted
- A devotee should not be angry. But that does not mean that he has lost his capacity of anger. No. Everything is there
- A pure devotee immediately becomes fiery with anger when he sees that Lord Visnu or His devotee is insulted
- Although the Kumaras were already liberated persons, they nevertheless became angry. This point is very important. Becoming liberated does not necessitate losing one's sensual activities. Sense activities continue even in the liberated stage
B
- Being self-realized, Jada Bharata, who was fully situated on the transcendental platform, did not at all become angry; instead, he smiled and began to deliver his teachings to King Rahugana
- Bhima did not take steps against the sons of Dhrtarastra for a long time. Vidura's inquiry was whether he had yet released his anger, which was like a suffering cobra. When a cobra releases its venom after long-cherished anger, its victim cannot survive
- Both Indra & Prthu were envious and angry with each other, but since both of them were Vaisnavas, or servants of Lord Visnu, it was their duty to adjust the cause of their envy. This is also a first-class example of cooperative behavior between Vaisnavas
D
- Diti knew that because of his (Siva's) being quickly angered he might spoil the pregnancy she had so unlawfully (by untimely sexual intercourse) achieved
- Diti prayed: Because he (Siva) is all-auspicious, it is not difficult for him to excuse me from being punished, although he is now ready to punish me because I have moved his great anger. He appears like a man, but he is the lord of all men
- Diti said: It is very good that my sons will be magnanimously killed by the arms of the Personality of Godhead with His Sudarsana weapon. O my husband, may they never be killed by the wrath of the brahmana devotees
- Diti was conscious of her offense (untimely sexual intercourse) and was anxious to be excused by Lord Siva. Lord Siva has two popular names, Rudra and Asutosa. He is very prone to anger as well as quickly pacified
- Due to their jealousy, Jaya and Vijaya would not allow the Kumaras entry, and consequently the Kumaras became angry and cursed Jaya and Vijaya, condemning them to take birth in a family of asuras in the material world
H
- He (Maharaja Pariksit) was not at all angry with the muni's son who had cursed him. Rather, he accepted the curse and prepared for his death in the association of Sukadeva Gosvami
- Here (in SB 3.15.31) we can mark that even great saintly persons like the Kumaras were also angry, but they were not angry for their personal interests. They were angry because they were forbidden to enter the palace to see the Personality of Godhead
I
- I am not angry. You can beat me with shoes, I am not angry - That is not devotional. You see? But the thing is, a devotee is not angry on his personal account. Just like God also does not become angry on His personal account
- It is not possible that the princes of the Yadu dynasty could offend any saintly man or sage, nor could the sages, who were all pure devotees of the Lord, be influenced to anger
- It is not possible that they could offend any saintly man or sage, nor could the sages, who were all pure devotees of the Lord, be influenced to anger by any of the sporting activities of the princes born in the holy dynasties of Yadu or Bhoja
O
- Once Narada became angry with the two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, and he chastised them by turning them into trees. The result was that later they were liberated by Lord Sri Krsna
- One fixed in Krsna consciousness has neither attachment nor detachment because his life is dedicated in the service of the Lord. Consequently he is not at all angry even when his attempts are unsuccessful. BG 1972 purports
- One should be very meek and humble in his personal transactions, and if insulted a Vaisnava should be tolerant and not angry
- Our dear friend Yasoda, your son (Krsna) sometimes comes to our houses before the milking of the cows and releases the calves, and when the master of the house becomes angry, your son merely smiles - SB 10.8.29
S
- Sanatana did not like the idea of the servant carrying such money. He became angry with him and said, "Why do you carry this death knell on the road?
- Suhrdah sarva-dehinam (SB 3.25.21). Sometimes a Vaisnava becomes superficially angry at a nondevotee, but this is good for the nondevotee. We have several examples of this in Vedic literature
T
- The cowherd men, having been unable to check the cows from going to their calves (Krsna's calf expansions), felt simultaneously ashamed and angry - SB 10.13.32
- The desire of the paramahamsas is to act always for Krsna. Krodham bhakta-dvesi jane. They use anger against the nondevotees and transform bhaya, or fear, into fear of being deviated from Krsna consciousness
- The devotee is situated on the absolute platform, and when he is angry or pleased, there is no difference, for in either case he bestows his benediction
- The Lord Himself appeared as a descendant (of the Yadu dynasty). The cursing of the princes by the sages was another transcendental pastime of the Lord to make a show of anger
- The parents of the Lord, due to parental affection, felt extreme danger, and they almost fainted. Just to convince them that They had actually killed Kamsa, Krsna and Baladeva pulled Kamsa's dead body along the ground to encourage them
- The princes (of the Yadu dynasty) were cursed in order that one may know that even the descendants of the Lord, who could never be vanquished by any act of material nature, were subjected to the reactions of anger by great devotees of the Lord
- The sound incarnation of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Soul, enters into the heart of a self-realized devotee, sits on the lotus flower of his loving relationship, and thus cleanses the dust of material association, such as lust, anger and hankering
- There is no misuse by God or His devotee. There is no question of . . . that the devotee or God should not be angry; but they know how to use it. That is the difference. As God knows where to use anger, similarly, devotee should know where to use anger
W
- We should know when to be angry. Not that for our personal interest we shall be. Generally, those who are devotees, they are not angry
- When Krsna is caught in His naughty activities, the master of the house will say to Him, 'Oh, You are a thief,' and artificially express anger at Krsna. Krsna will then reply, 'I am not a thief. You are a thief' - SB 10.8.31
- When suffering reversed conditions, the devotee always considers that the reverse conditions are the Lord's concessions. He is never angry with his master; he is always satisfied with the position his master offers